Surrounded by his father’s trade as a neon sign-maker, he learned to paint and create large works from the metal he found in his father’s sign shop. Jimenez eventually went on to study architecture and art at the University of Texas in Austin where, in 1964, he received a fine arts degree. After studying in Mexico City and New York City, he returned to El Paso in the 1970s. Inspired by his experience in his father’s shop and by the Hispanic culture of the region, he began his work in fiberglass.
On the morning of June 13th, 2006, Jimenez and two of his employees were moving a large piece with a hoist at Jimenez Studios in Hondo, New Mexico. The piece suddenly swung loose, striking Jimenez, pinning him down and severely injuring his leg. He was rushed to Lincoln County Medical Center in nearby Ruidoso, where he was pronounced dead. Jimenez was sixty-five years old. The piece he was working on was a sculpture of a rearing horse that was to be placed in the Denver International Airport.
Known for his colorful, immense fiberglass sculptures depicting Aztec warriors and common laborers, Jimenez worked with only one good eye, as the other eye had been damaged as a result of a BB gunshot received when he was younger. Pieces like “Howl” often challenged societal notions of subjects such as war and various ideologies, and incited passionate responses that weren’t always positive. One of Jimenez’ most infamous quotes addressed the creation of controversy itself.
“It is not my job to censor myself,” Jimenez once said. “An artist’s job is to constantly test the boundaries.”
“Man on Fire”, created in 1969, is a sculpture of a man in flames. Inspired by Buddhist monks in South Vietnam and the Mexican story of Cuauhtemoc, this sculpture was on display at the Smithsonian. Las Crucens might recognize Jimenez’ “The Sodbuster”. This fiberglass sculpture showing a man driving two oxen pulling a plow was on exhibit outside of the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, in Las Cruces, from 2002 to 2005. El Pasoans have long enjoyed the infamous “Plaza de Los Lagartos” sculpture in downtown El Paso, which immortalized the past “residents” of the park. Also, in front of the El Paso Museum of Art rests the twenty-foot tall “Vaquero”. On a national level President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush also enjoyed and respected the work of Jimenez. When Laura Bush was First Lady of Texas she purchased the lithograph, “Texas Waltz,” which found a home at their ranch in Crawford, Texas. In 2001 Jimenez was invited to attend the G.W. Bush family’s first White House state dinner, where he appeared in a bolo tie and vibrant red cowboy boots.
Long-time friend and photographer Kirk Gittings remembers Luis fondly. “Luis, while one of the most successful contemporary artists ever to come out of this region, remained very human, accessible and generous with his time and talents. I documented his retrospective at the Albuquerque Museum for him. In trade for my services I asked for a print of the famous lithograph of his father dancing with the skeleton. Unfortunately, Luis informed me, it was worth three times what my photographs were. I think Luis recognized my disappointment. Two weeks later a mailing tube showed up on my doorstep. It was the lithograph! Just one small example [of Luis’ generous nature].”
He will be greatly missed, yet the spirit of his art will live on eternally and will continue to inspire future generations of great artists.
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